Switch heater



March 27-, 1928.

- 1,664,371 c. w. MOFFETT ET AL SWITCH HEATER Filed Feb. 12, 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

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March 27, 1928. d 1,664,371

; I C. W. MQFFETT ET AL SWITCH HEATER Filed Feb. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet2 IIIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIIII f INVENTORS Z3 22 m 22 'www BY M, 49%

div. ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 27, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics.

CHARLES W. MOFFETT, OF FLUSHTNG, AND MARK R. BRINEYyOF BROOK HAVEN,YORK, ASSIGNORS TO BRINARD SALES AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK,N. Y., A CORPORATION OF'NEW YORK.

swrrcn HEATER. A

Application filed February 12, 1927 Serial No. 167,636.

This invention relates to railway equipment and, with respect to itsmore specific features, to railway switches.

One of the objects of the invention is the 6 provision of a practicalapparatus wherewith normal operation of a railway switch may be assuredunder weather conditions which mi ht otherwise prevent.

other object of the invention is'the provision of an apparatus of simpleconstruc- '-tion adapted readily to be closelyassociated.

with standard types of switches for preventing or removing accumulationof snow and ice in position obstructive of normal operation of theswitches.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a practical heateradapted to be mounted between the tie and the rails without impairingthe efiiciency of either, and without injuring either.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple heatingapparatus adapted so to be associated with a switch that, under allconditions of weather, a quantity of heat sutficient to melt obstructivesnow and ice, will positively be transmitted to the air space betweenthe stock rail and the switch rail.

Another object of the invention is the provision ofa practical apparatusadapted, under all conditions of weather, positivel to assure heating ofthe switch rails and 0 the stock rails adjacent the switch.

. Another object of the invention is the provision of a heater, simpleand strong in construction, and eflicient in operation, which willmaintain operative condition under heavy loads or shocks whilepositively distributing heatv to the switch.

' Another objectof the invention is the provision of a practicalconstruction of heater adapted, as a component part of the tie, tosupport the rails.

Another object of the invention is the pr vision of a practical andeflioientapparatus adapted to heat the switch throughout practically itsfull length. i

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the constructionhereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature I and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is-a diagrammatic plan view of a railway switch embodying theinvention, cer

tain parts being broken away for clearer disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, and enlarged over Fig.1, showing the invention as embodied in one form of switch equlpment.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the invention embodied in asomewhat modified form of switch equipment. The details oFf Fig. 3 arethe same as that illustrated in Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view, partlyin section, of a railway tie associated with the detail type ofheaterillustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the heater of Fig. 4, partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a cross section of Fig. 4 on the line 6-6.

Fig. 7 is a detail.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view il-L lustrating the electricalconductor connection leading to the heaters.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numerals 1 indicaterailway ties of wood which, as usual, may be sup ported on a roadbed oron an elevated framework, the ties being retained in their positionsrelative to each other. The numerals 2 rod 50 which may beoperativelyfconnected 1 to any suitable device for being s fted.

In the embodiments of the invention illus trated in the drawingselectrical heaters are employed. These heaters utilizela heatingfilament as the source of heat. In the present CaSefthiS filament mabeof metal or other material of proper 'ension to offer sufiicientresistance seas to become highly heated on passage of the current. Metalresistance wire is illustrated.

In the embodiment illustrated in. Fig. 2,

each electrical heater includes an integral heat-radiator block, orplate 6, This plate includes a downward extension 60, and is spiked tothe tie 1, the extension 60 being inset in a shallow recess 7 in theupper face. of the tie. When the switch is open the switch rail isseparated from the stock rail, there being an imobstructed air spacebetween: these two rails, which decreases in width as the switch railapproaches the stock rail. Obstructive foreign matter in said air spacemay interfere with or prevent normal operation of the switch. Inlowtemperatures ice and snow mayaccumulate in. said space above the tie,and falling snow en-' ters this space, and is deposited therein thesetwo rails at the bottom of said space,

. heatedby t e tor walls for t I as the latter the switch. Lengthwi'se'of the track the 1 directly opposite the-tie. Inthiswise the face 8 andthe two rails 2' and 3 form a sort I "of pocket, the plate '6 and therails being its bounding'walls. The plate 6 is composed of heatconductive metal, and the face 8 thereof radiates heat directly into thespace referred.

'towhenever the'heater isin action. The

switch rail and stock rail rest upon and make direct contact with theface 8 and are of steel so that the too, as well as the face 8, are

plate 6 and become heat radiae space between the two rails. The face -8also is smooth and fiat and serves as a supportin bearing for the switchrail fts in normal operation of late 6. may be as longas the tie iswide, or even longer, and hence heat radiation into the air spacereferred to comes from all points of the face 8, the plate actingtodistribute the heat fromthe heat originating filament. v

e effect of heating the 'rails and the plate'6 is to cause eansionthereof, and ad-p vantage is taken this effect to promoteloosening of inc'ru'sted ice ,from'the rails at ints relatively rein'otefrom the heater.

rpansion of the rails" will occur notonly at the area of contact withthe plate'6, but also beyond,-'-toward the spacebetween the ties.

To; augment this expansive effect a plurality of the heaters arelocatedat short intervals, longitudinally of the rails, as illustrated in Figs.1 and 2. Each of theseheatersis also located relative to the air spaceand relative to the stock rail and switch rail, as before explained. Theexpansive effect on the rails by this assemblage of heaters iscumulative, and the expansion tends to loosen the ice incrusted on therails between the ties, so that it will drop to the roadbed or is shakenoif the switch rail by vibration, as form operating the switch. Theseries of plates 6give' support to a great length of the switch rail andpositively heat a considerable length of the switch rail and the stockrail.

" The depth of the extension may be quite small compared with the depthof the tie,

and hence the depth of recess 7 will not be sufficient to weaken the tieunduly. Moreover the plate 6 reinforces thewooden tie 1. Between the tie1 and the extension 60an effective layer 9 of heat insulating materialmay be located, to avoid charring of the .walls of the recess. Theradiator face 8 is not covered by and is exposed through thisinsulation. As the recess 7 is directly below the air space between thestock rail" and the switch rail, the heater is at once operativeposition when disposed in said recess. It will be seen that the heatingblock forms a facing for that part of the tie which supports therail'sand the loads of o ration, and that the filament is embedded inthis composite tie, and heat insulated therefrom, Furthermore the tieserves to insulate the greater portion of the heating block from theouter air, and therefore promotes efliciency of heating of the radiatorface 8.

In the embodiments illustrated the. heaters are at the upper faces ofthe usual type of wooden railway ties. But it is to be-understood thatthe heaters may be mounted on a I different type of tie or pedestalrising from the roadbed, and might be located between the regular tieswithout departing from the broader aspects of this invention. It is believed, however, that disposition on the regularties is to be desiredbecauseit permits the heaters to be located to best advantage relativeto difierent parts of the length of the switch rail, and promotes theheat insulating tions which the switch heater will have to endure inuse, its construction should be such as to minimize injury, maintain thefilament.

in operative condition and position under normal traflic and in 'lowtemperatures, and

provide for .eflicient distribution of heat to the switch. In eachembodiment illustrated the heating filament is encased in a strong,

metal, heat radiator block, or plate. In the. embodiment of;Fig-. 2, thefilament passes through the extension 60' of the integral metal plate 6,of which the 11 per faced is an integral part. ,The plate or lock 6 isof heat conductive material such as steel, and the heating filament liesbetween the upper and lower surfaces of this block, and is mountedtherein, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7 in which 10 indicates theheatin filament.

.The numeral 11 indicates a tu e of heat conductive metal which isrelatively flexible so as to be bent or wound, as into the zigzag shapeillustrated. This tube may be of drawn steel. The filament 10 isinsulated from the tube by being embedded in the centre of a mass ofelectrical insulating mate- A therefrom. By squeezing or swaging theWall of the tube, the granular material will' be compacted and held inplace around the filament, and the assemblage may then be wound into thedesired shape with assurance that the filament will be held insulatedfrom the tube in its new shape. Thereupon a mass of steel or othersuitable heat conductive material is cast around the wound tubecontaining the heating filament. The cast jacket thus provided will berigid and strong, will be in close heat conductive contact with theouter. wall of the tube, and will reinforce and protect the tube and theinsulating material therein, and prevent their being crushed ordisplaced under the heavy ,im-

pacts of service. This jacket will also brace the windings of the tubein position relative to eachother. By using a mold the heating block orplate 6, with the wound tube therein, may thus be produced in oneoperation. By casting a thin and wide block, the recess 7 in the tie,though shallow, will readily accommodate the extension 60, so that theupper heat radiator face 8 will be located in operative heatingposition. By the windings, origination of heat is distributed bothlengthwise and cross-wise of the rails, so that the whole surface of theradiator face 8 is practically directly and quickly heated. Economy ofcurrent consumption and efficiency and quickness of heating follow bydisposing the heating filament near and directly below the face 8bounding the air space between the switch rail and the stock rail.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2,

the plate 6 serves as the direct support of the movably mounted justbeneath the separate rall supporting or tie plate 14. By thisconstruction, the heaters may be applied to standard types of switcheswithout removing the usual tie plates. Insuch case the heating block 13may be flat and of the rectangular outline illustrated, adapted, toheslid into and out of the recess 7 in the tie. The upper heat radiatorfaceof the block 13 is held in close juxtaposition to the bottom of thetie plate 14. The tie plate of steel is therefore surely heated by theheating block 13, and thus the upper face of the separate tie plate 14radiates heat directly into the air space between the stock rail and theswitch rail, and the two rails are positively heated by the conductionof the metal. For purposes of. repair, replacement and adaptation tostandard railway switch equipment, the construction of Fig. '3 possessesimportant advantages. h

In Fig. 4 the construction of the body of the heater is illustrated indetail. It is to be understood'that this construction is similar to thatillustrated in Fig. 3, but that the same construction may be employedfor associating the filament with the integral heating block 6illustrated in Fig. 2. In Fig; 4 the heating block is indicated'at 13,being a flat, generally rectangular block corresponding to the similarlyindicated block in Fig.

3. On the bottom and at the lateral sides ofthe block or plate 13 is thelayer of heat insulating material 9, which may be asbestos.

On the outside and around three sides of the insulating material is themetal shoe 16, having projections 17, which may be detachably connectedto the block 13 by the bolts 18, as more particularly illustrated inFig. 5. -At the ends of the sides of the shoe are projecting ears 19,which may be bent into position against the upright sides of the tie forretaining the heating unit in place on the tie. The assemblage ofheating block 13, insulation 9, and shoe 16, provides a heating unitinwhich the parts are detachably held together, so that either of themmay be re-- moved, as desired. Also these parts may he slid as one intothe recess 7 of the tie be-' neath the tie plate 14. The windings of thefilament and the tube 11 in which it is encased are also clearlyillustrated in Fig. 4.

with lateral flanges which may rest upon the upper surface of the tie,as illustrated in Fig. 2.

As Will be seen on reference to Fig.1, the

filaments of the different heaters are conadjustment in distance betweensuccessive heatersr Also the leads should preferably made waterproof andas non-oxidizable as possible in order to avoid corrosion. The oppo'siteends 21 of the tube 11 project from the passageway in the heating block,these ends of course, being sealed by non-conductive material throughwhich the filament brie covered cable so as to seal it herwaterconductor able.

- therefore tight manner at this end. The opposite ends of each of theleads 20 may be connected to the adjacent filaments and tubes '11 in themanner just described. The contact between the ends of the filaments 10and the lead 22 is conveniently made detach- By this construction theconductors 22 are'surrounded by a sheath, which protects them. The endsof the sheaths may readily be detached from'the tubes 11 when desired.

Currentmay be supplied to the electr c heaters from any suitable sourceof electric energy, through the conductorBO, the filaments on each sideof the track .being in series. At the opposite end of the assemblage theconductor 31 is grounded at'32.

In an electric railway, current for the filaments ma be taken off thethird rail, and in eit er instance suitable devices will be providedwherewith the filaments may be. energized or de-energized so as tocontrol the time for actuating the heaters.

It will be noted that the plate 6 of Fig. 2, and the plate 14; of Fig. 3serves as tie-plates resting on the relatively soft wooden tie and alsosupporting the rails. The heating plate 13 of Fig. 3 is also adapted toserve asa tie I plate, and protect the tie immed ately thereunder. Thissupplementary tie-plate 1:}, not only reinforces the tie where itisrecessed, but it may be removed and 1nserted in rail supportingposition without removing either the stock rail or the switch rail, andindependently-of the position of pair said rails. In this wise thetie-plate construction of the railway is improved, the of superposedtie-plates 13 and 14 being adapted to act concurrently, either beingcapable of acting individually should injury only a heat radiator plateon which If the tie-plate 14 be,

late 13 provides not face, but a type of tieoccur to'the other.dispensed with, thenormal operation of the switch. 1

The operation will be apparent from the foregoing description. Infreezing weather,

the switch rail may slide in the devices which control supply of currenti to the heating filaments will be set from the tower, or other suitableplace of control, so as to electrically energize the filaments and causethem to raise the temperature of the heat radiator platesG, or 13, asthe case may be. Any ice or snow which may have acpositively heated bycontact with the heat radiator plate, so that the .heat radiating areawill be practically coextensive with the bounding area of the air spacedirectly above the tie. The fact that the wind may be ated blowing willbe immateriah Accumu ice and snow will guard the heat rediating surfacesfrom the air currents. In case the heaters have been set in action infreezing weather, and in contemplation of rain o11a Much of this snow.

fall of snow, the snow will promptly be melted upon imp ngement -on theheated radiator surfaces, and these same surfaces.

will prevent the formation of ice thereon.

It will thus be seen that, in either instance, there is positiveassurance that foreign matter, suchas snow and ice, will be melted andthereby eliminated from obstructive position between the switch rails orwill be prevented from obstructive-1y accumlating between said.

rails. y t It will be perceived that in each modification illustratedthe heatingv filament is shielded from the wind by a mass of' heatconductive metal having a heat radiator face exposed to the outer airand forming a bounding wall of the air space between the switch rail andthe stock rail. In ,Fig. 2, this shield is formed by the plate 6; inFig. '3, it is formed -'by the superposed pl'ates-13and14. Whenthe plate14' is omitted the shield will be formed by the plate13. As illustratedin Fig. 3, the shield plate 13 carries the filament and is movable intoand out of position in the shield with out displacement of the railsfrom the upper shield plate 14.

- Since. certain changes may be made in the above construction, anddifferent embodiments ofthe invention could-be made without' departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended-that all matter contained in theabove description, or shown in'the accompanying drawings, shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to'be understood that the followingclaims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the inventionherein-"described, and all statements of the sa1d eat-radiator platebeing removably.

scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said tofall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: p

1. In a railway switch, in combination, a railway tie having a recess inits upper face directly below the airspace between the stock rail andthe switch rail, a tie reinforcing, heat-radiator plate inset in saidrecess and heat insulated from the Walls of said recess, and a heatingfilament carried by said plate between its upper and lower surfaces. a

2. In a railway switch, in combination, a railway tie having a recess inits upper face directly below the air space between the stock rail andthe switch rail, a tie reinforcing, heat-radiator plate inset in saidrecess and heat insulated from the walls of said recess, and a heatingfilament carried by said plate between its upper and lower surfaces, anda rail supporting plate of heat conductive metal bridging said recessand in close superposed relation to said reinforcing plate.

3. In a railway switch; incombination, a railway tie having a recess inits upper face directly below the air space between the stock rail andthe switch rail, a tie reinforcing, heat-radiator plate inset in saidrecess and heat insulated from the walls of said recess 'a heatingfilament carried by said plate between its upper and lower surfaces, anda rail supporting plate of heat conductive metal bridging said recess.and in close supe osed relation to said reinforcing plate,

mounted between said supporting plate and said tie, and having meansadapted to cooperate to retain it in heating position.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, arelatively flexible, bent, metal tube havin a heating filament thereinelectrically insu ated therefrom, and a rigid heat-distributive jacketof metal in close contact with the windings of said tube and bracin thewindings in position relative to eac projecting from said (jlaclret,said jaclset being relatively thm an wlde and having an upper heatradiator face, a layer of heat insulating material through which saidupper face is exposed, and a shoe detachably connected to said .jacketadapted to retain said I insulating material in place.

'5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, aheating filament, a tube of heat conductive material in which saidfilament is contained, aheat distributive tube reinforcing plate of heatconductive metal in which said tube is encased,

and a protective shoe heat insulated from said plate and adapted toexpose a heating face of said plate. 1.

other, the ends of said tube In an apparatus of the character described,1n combination, a heating filament,

a tube of heat conductive material in which said filament is contained,a heat distributive tube reinforcing plate of heat conductive metal inwhich said tube is encased, and a protective shoe heat insulated fromsaid plate and adapted to expose a heating face of said plate, said shoebein removably conplate of heat conductive metal resting on said tieimmediately above said recess, a heat distributive plate of heatconductive metal lying in said'recess with its upper face close to thelower face of said supporting plate,

and a heating filament mounted on said distributive plate.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tiehaving in its upper face a recess of'small depth relative to the depthof the tie, a rail supporting plate of heat conductive metal resting onsaid tie immediately above said recess, a heat distributive plate ofheat conductive metal in said recess with its upper face close to thelower face of said supporting plate, and a heatingfilament mounted'onsaid distributive plate, said distributive plate being slidable betweensaid tieand supporting plate into and out of said recess.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a tiehaving in its upper face a recess of small depth relative to the depthof the tie, a rail supporting plate of heat conductive metal resting onsaid tie immediately above said recess, a heat distributive platelyingin said recess with its upper face close to the lower face of saidsupporting plate, and a heating filament mounted on said distributiveplate, said distributive plate being slidable between said tie andsupporting plate into and out of said recessv and having a protectiveshoe heat insulated therefrom.

10."In an apparatus of the character described, vin combination, a tiehaving in "its upper face a recess of small depth relative its upperface close tothe lower face of said supporting plate, and a heatingfilament mounted on said distributive plate, said distributive platebein slidable between said tie and supporting p ate into and out of saidrecess and having a protective shoe heatinsulated therefrom, saidshoedetach'ably connected to' said distributive plate and having devicesadapted to cooperate with the tie removably to retain thedistributive'plate v in superposed relation to said supporting the spacebetween said rails, and a tie-plate p heating filament heat insulatedfrom the wall of the recess in the tie inwhich it is inset.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a stockrail, aswitch rail,-a tie, and a pair of heat conductive tie-plates insuperposed relation to. each other the lower of said plates beingremovable irom said tie independently of the position of said rails, anda heating filament carried by and removable with said lower late. H

In testimony tures. 1

CHARLES W. MOFFETT. MARK. R. BRINEY.

whereofwe aflix our signa-

